THE Silkmen produced the archetypal away performance to steal all three points at Rushden and make their way back into the play-off shake-up.

Despite being dominated in terms of possession and opportunities all afternoon by their hosts, a sound defensive performance and some truly heroic goalkeeping made sure the visitors didnét break through.

But at the other end, Macc seem to have heeded manager Brian Hortonés instructions to become more ruthless by tucking away their only two meaningful opportunities late in either half.

The home side made their intentions known from the start and Wilson had to be at his best to keep out former Norwich striker Drewe Broughton in the sixth minute. After Peter Hawkins had crossed from the line, Broughton got ahead of Matt Carragher, only to be denied by the fingertips of Wilson. The Macc keeper was at it again 10 minutes later - again denying Broughton with an acrobatic tip over the crossbar.

Former Reading stalwart Stuart Gray looked dangerous all afternoon - and he was the next in line to test Wilson on the half hour mark with a well-struck shot from the edge of the box.

The first we saw of Macc as an attacking force came on 36 minutes when Paul Harsley found Jon Parkin in space, and the big Yorkshireman chipped just wide of the post.

But a couple of minutes later, the Silkmen finally broke through when Parkin was given time to turn, and he rolled a perfect ball through to the over-lapping Graham Potter to smash home.

And Macc could have made it two just before the break when John Miles engineered some space on the edge of the box to curl a shot just wide of Billy Turleyés post.

After the restart the home side should have brought themselves level when Broughton nodded Craig Doveés right-wing cross wide from six yards out.

Diamonds pushed for an equaliser, but were constantly repelled by some solid defending reminiscent of the Silkmenés trip to Yeovil Town earlier in the year.

With nine minutes to go, a piece of magic from former Celtic striker Chris Hay almost gave Rushden a deserved equaliser.

After collecting Turleyés long throw on the right, Hay cut in field and evaded two challenges before firing a shot goalwards, which Wilson did well to gather at the second time of asking.

With the pressure building, Macc needed a release, and they found one with Parkinés 87th minute winner.

Wilson bombed a big kick out towards the big man, who won his battle with former Everton defender Graham Allen before firing a low shot past Turley into the back of the net.

It was typical Parkin, and some would say after two poor performances against Cheltenham and Alfreton - it was a typical Macc response.